My first week in New York in 1978, when I was about to start as a writer at Time. And my first week in the south of France after retiring from my job of 25 years as editor of Vanity Fair.
When were you happiest?
Question
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Identity & self
Question
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Failure & regret
Question
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Daily life
Question
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Death & what remains
Question
What would you like to be remembered for?
Death & what remains
Question
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Values & belief
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
On a walking safari in the middle of the Kenyan bush. I had no phone, no mirror, nothing, and I was really happy because I had no distractions.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 March 2019 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 577 →
Stephen Merchant
English comedian and actor
Watching Bruce Springsteen at Glastonbury. During Because The Night I actually shouted, "This is the greatest moment of my life!"
Paul O'Grady
British comedian, actor and television presenter
When I hit 30 and managed to get a council flat in London. It was in the most terrible state, but it was bliss to have a flat of my own.
Enrique Iglesias
Spanish singer
At home with my dogs, or on the boat going waterskiing on a beautiful day in Miami. And having a hit song that connects with people.
More from Adwoa Aboah
View profile →I wanted to be a cooker. Not a cook: I wanted to actually be the stove.
Nothing. Everything’s got me to this point and I had to learn lots of things. Maybe I just wouldn’t have been so terrified all the time and I would have got up a bit earlier – I missed quite a few mornings.
They are already things I work on: routine and less sugar.
The whole of The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill.
For persevering, and being a good role model.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – everything she writes speaks to me. Her Ted talk, We Should All Be Feminists, inspired everything I do with Gurls Talk.
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